Gut bacteria affects brain health

The hundred trillion bacteria living in your gut have a significant impact on your behaviour and brain health, say scientists, including one of Indian-origin.

In an article in the Journal of Medicinal Food, Leo Galland, Director of Foundation for Integrated Medicine, New York, presented the most up-to-date understanding of the relationship between the proteins produced by intestinal bacteria and the human central nervous system.

Galland explores the various mechanisms through which the microbiome can influence the brain: by stimulating and over-stimulating the immune system, producing neurotoxic agents, releasing hormones or neurotransmitters identical to those made by the human body, or through direct neuronal stimulation that sends signals to the brain.

“The microbiome has become a hot topic in many branches of medicine, from immune and inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn’s and IBD to cardiovascular diseases,” said Co-Editor-in-Chief Sampath Parthasarathy, Florida Hospital Chair in Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando.

“Scientists are not only aware of the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ microbes in the gut but are becoming increasingly aware of how they could alter the metabolism beyond gut,” Parthasarathy said.

Your smartphone is a breeding ground for bacteria

After a group of students from the University of Surrey placed their smartphone in a clinical glass dish to observe the behaviour of the bacteria on the phone, they were surprised at the growth rate of the bacteria. The bacteria flourished exponentially and with the wide gamut of places our fingers touch, it was not very surprising that the smartphone screen became the hub of all the collected bacteria.

The devices that we use, not only carry our own germs but also germs from wherever we visit.

The bacteria use different mediums to transmit, mediums like air and water are the major carriers of germs other than that sneezing, coughing, touching, pets, insects and sharing  smartphones, can cause a bacteria explosion on your smartphone screen.

 The maximum amount of bacteria are usually found on the home screen button which is the most-touched part of the screen.

The good news is that most of the bacteria growth does not harm an average person and is no reason for concern but during the study there were a few bacteria like 'Staphylococcus Aureus' that were found on the phone, these bacteria can cause skin infections, respiratory diseases and food poisoning.

 The only pragmatic solution to this problem will be to clean your device at least once or twice a week